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Company Name: BOTTA Website: http://www.botta-design.de/en/automatikuhren/one-hand-watch-uno-automatic.html Company History: Botta-Design has been designing and creating wristwatches for clients like Junghans AG, Bestform and Watch People since 1986. During this time models […]

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Company History: Botta-Design has been designing and creating wristwatches for clients like Junghans AG, Bestform and Watch People since 1986. During this time models such as the Junghans-Solar-1, the UNO, the TRES series and others were produced – and some of them still enjoy market success to this day. In the year 2000, Botta-Design itself took over sales of its watch collection, since which time it has been continuously expanding the product range.

Awards

Botta-Design has already received 53 renowned design awards, both in Germany and abroad. Some of the Botta-Designwatches became design icons and are exhibited in museums like the Chicago Museum of Architecture and Design or the Museum für angewandte Kunst (Museum of Applied Art) in Frankfurt.

The Uno Alpin comes in a nice, clean & simple package. Sliding off the outter sleeve to the box, reveals the box with a window that you can see the watch from. The lid to the box attaches via magnetic force which is a very cool feature. Since I was a kid, magnets were also such a cool thing, uh just like watches. But getting back to business here, the packaging is simple helping to keep the overall costs down. Plus it helps when storing your watch boxes/packages, this won’t take up that much room. I don’t know about you guys, but I keep all the stuff that comes with my watches, I’m a completest in that way.

The Case:

The case is brushed stainless steel and has the measurements of 42 mm / 9,8 mm height / 60g in weight. I would classify the overall style of the case to fit into a dress style of watch. I could easily see this watch being worn with a suit or business casual attire, but could also be dressed down with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. One of the first things I noticed is that the case is lugless and the strap connects underneath the case. This keeps the 42mm case in check and allows the watch to wear smaller than if there were lugs. It’s rather interesting to me the design choice of the lugless case here. Looking at the back of the case it looks like a case would if it did have lugs looking from the dial side. Almost giving this watch a reversibility factor if one was so inclined to flip the straps, not that you could tell the time that way but it would be a good way to display your watch movement. The case back cuts in on both sides giving it very sexy lines comparible to the lines of a sports car when the watch is on your wrist. The back of the case has a sapphire crystal for viewing the movement in motion. On watches of this style, I always like the inclusion of the see through caseback, it adds personality to the watch, and I like looking into the soul of a watch. On dive/tool watches the see through caseback doesn’t make sense to me. The caseback also features some info on the water resistance which is 3ATM. There is also the stamped Made in Germany, which Bota watches are one of the few companies who still assemble right within Germany. The non-screw down crown has some nice knurl to it which makes it very easy to grip so winding and pulling it out to set the time is easy. The crown adds a subtle toughness to the overall design of the watch giving it some “man points”. The crown is also signed with the Botta ‘T’ from their logo. I prefer a signed crown as it adds personality to the watch, and elimates that generic feeling when crowns are unsigne. The crystal is sapphire and is known for its resistance to scratches.

The Dial:

The dial is perhaps the most intriguing part of the watch. When I first saw it, of course I immediatlely thought of the song, “One is the lonliest number that you’ll ever know”……Wow, one hand on the whole watch, hmm how am I going to figure telling the time out. After some studying, I figured it out……yes all by myself thank you very much. After the hour marker there are two small lines which represent in incrimates of 5 minutes each, the third line which is slightly longer is the 15 minute mark, then two more smaller 5 minute markers which then give way to a longer marker representing the 30 minute marker, then two small markers, then the longer 45 minute marker followed by two 5 minute small markers, which brings us to the next hour marker. Did you follow all that? In other words, each line represents 5 minutes. I like that the 15, 30, and 45 minute markers are longer because it adds ease to telling the time. I’m used to the standard three hands style watches, so this is very new to me. Honestly only took an hour or so if wrist time, to be able to tell the time easily. The one hand style doesn’t feel gimmicky to me either, it actually gives the watch a clean and classy look. Sometimes simple is good and it really works here with the Uno Alpin. The clean white dial with the black minute and hour markers are very well done, very crisp. The single hand is long, and comes down to a very sharp point aligning perfectly with each marker as it slowly makes its way around the dial. There is a date window above the six o’clock marker. I really like the fact that Bota left the six o’clock marker in place and simply raised the date window above it which keeps the dial in perfect harmony. I personally think that with a single hand dial, excluding any of the hour markers, would disrupt the flow of the dial and it would make tellin the time difficult. The dial doesn’t has Made in Germany or Bota’s name but it does feature one word, UNO. One word, UNO yes that is correct.

The Movement:

The workhorse of a movement also know as the ETA 2824-2. This particular movement has a -7/+7 seconds per day allowance. This is a very reliable and well known movement, I don’t think I can say anything new about the movement that hasn’t already been said by many people before me. It’s a very nice looking movement and you get a great view of it from the sapphire crystal case back.

The Strap:

A very comfortable, nicely padded vegetable strap with white sticking on top and blue stiching on the back. The strap is made by Hirsch and has a water resistance of 100m which makes it nice so you don’t have to worry when you wash your hands. The tang style buckle is unsigned brushed stainless steel. The strap has two keepers on it, one is fixed and the other has free reign. I like this strap and actually prefer this watch with a strap and not a bracelet. I think a bracelet would be way too sterile and make this watch look washed out.

Wrist Shots:

My wrist is 7 3/4″ for reference.

Conclusion:

This is a very nice offering from Botta at a very nice price point for the fact you are getting a well known and reliable movement inside. I like the overall clean and classy look of the watch. I would definitely wear this watch to work or out to the dinner and movie night. It wouldn’t be my first choice for my weekend adventures. I like the uniqueness of the single hand dial and I love the white dial. The UNO is very light and extremely comfortable on the wrist. I don’t think I would change anything about this watch. I think it very well done and has some good quality in terms of overall design. I would definitely recommend this watch to someone looking for a unique dress watch that works both in the office and for date night. This watch is such a departure from what I usually wear and I really, really like it. It would definitely go into my watch rotation for sure.

Botta is a great company with great customer service. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with and to communicate with. I want to thank Botta for this opportunity to do this review, it has been an honor and a privilege. I also want to thank you, my readers, without you, well, no one would be reading this. You guys are great, and make me strive to give you qualiy reviews, that hopefully offer a different review experience. THANKS FOR READING!

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I fell in love with watches when I was a small child and I would listen to my grandfathers pocket watch ticking. It's been an obsession ever since. Dive watches are my true love. I've been actively involved in the watch universe for over 15 years, trying to contribute what I can, where I can. Spreading my knowledge , but more importantly learning new things from other WIS. Thanks for looking at my blog. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me. Follow the blog via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TimetoBlog-Watches-473321089483105/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timetoblog_watches/